Futurist Orville Simpson envisioned a hyper-efficient city housed in a single, interconnected mega-complex. Lauren Boettcher explores plans by the University of Cincinnati to take on Simpson's legacy.
Much in the tradition of Le Corbusier and Paolo Soleri, Orville Simpson is a bold thinker with grand ideas for the utopian cities of the future. But at the ripe age of 89, confronted with the likelihood that he may not live to see his grand ideas take shape, Simpson has elected to entrust his legacy to the University of Cincinnati's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning, where students will use his ideas as a basis for their exploration of the future of urban design.
Without any formal artistic training, or even a high school diploma, Simpson produced elaborate plans for a forward-thinking, resource-efficient, socially connected futurist colony called Victory City. Starting in his early twenties, Simpson built continuously on this vision throughout his life, which he was able to do thanks to "his frugal lifestyle paired with a few savvy investments," Boettcher explains.
"Each time I added a new layer to Victory City, another challenge would present itself," Simpson recalls. "I constantly assessed the relationships between each of the city's components. How would the agricultural farms transport food most efficiently to the cafeterias? How would residents visit their families in other cities? These are the questions I challenged myself to answer with every new sketch."
Urban design professor Udo Greinacher expressed his excitement for Simpson's contribution and the standard his work sets for students and faculty alike. "My diverse groups of students bring a variety ideas and experiences to the table, but Simpson's forward thinking has truly challenged them to step outside their own comfort zones. If I can encourage my students to be more like Simpson, I will have accomplished something great as a professor."
FULL STORY: Aging Artist’s Futuristic Vision of Urban Development Finds a Home at the University of Cincinnati

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie